Sydney Hobart - Tight Sydney 38 fleet on start line

Make sure you know the yachts in the Sydney 38 fleet in the Rolex Sydney Hobart because it is where all the action will be.

The spotlight is on the Sydney 38 One Design fleet, eight racing yachts that are identical to each other, with no modifications permitted.

The young and experienced solo sailor Jessica Watson, has been training with her crew on Ella Bache for months and months. She has drawn the fleet into a competitive and intense race to Hobart.

'We have had more yachts enter the fleet this year, than the in the last five years. It is more competitive than it ever has been, and having Jessica join us in the fleet will only set the bar even higher for all of us', Tony Levett, skipper of TSA Management said.'

The Goat has declared Ella Bache as the favourite, given their months of training and level of sponsorship, yet it appears the Goat has not given up its chances to take the class victory.

But it's not just Jessica Watson that makes this fleet interesting.

Everywhere you look in the fleet, you seem to find a story. There are the two brothers, 33 year old James and 40 year old Marcus Marten Coney on two competing yachts TSA Management and Mille Sabords. There is even a father and son combination on TSA Management.

And talk about teaching by example, Chris Lewin, skipper of Deloitte as One, is the coach and mentor to the crew on Ella Bache, and he is up against his apprentices.